This week’s Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge takes place at the fictional Dragon Trail venue, as players are treated to another dose of the ‘chicane of death’.
Using the Croatian circuit’s Seaside layout, GT7 players can choose any car from the Gr.3 category and set as fast a lap time as possible, with up to two million Credits on the line. Handy.
First seen in GT Sport, Dragon Trail is notable for its high-speed street circuit vibe, with pacey curves mixed in with bermed hairpins to great effect.
The standout sequence of corners is the aforementioned ‘chicane of death’, which leaves no margin for error thanks to its fast, single-line entry and high kerbs.
Gran Turismo 7 Dragon Trail – Seaside track guide
Turn 1 is flat-out in a Gr.3 car, but hang right and brake in a straight line on approach to Turn 2. Keep left, sacrificing speed to allow a clean run through Turn 3, short-shifting into fourth gear as you head downhill into the nearly flat Turn 4.
Keep to the left for the braking zone into Turn 5, using engine braking to quickly change into first gear. Short-shift into second or third for the exit of Turn 6 and keep it pinned through Turn 7, dropping a couple of gears into the following left-hander.
Build speed through the subsequent right and left sweeps before approaching the low-speed hairpin at Turn 12 -now you’re on approach to the ‘chicane of death’. It starts wide on entry but tightens on exit, so modulate your speed before turning. Remember: hitting the wall at any point will invalidate your lap time.
Aim for a ‘slow in, fast out’ approach as there’s a long run towards the final right-hand hairpin. Keep the car tight to the inside mid-corner and get on the gas as soon as you dare for the final straight, using the road camber to your advantage.
Gran Turismo 7’s Lap Time Challenges explained
GT7‘s Lap Time Challenge is a time trial mode where you compete against other players to set the fastest time on the leaderboard. However, there’s a caveat: setting a lap within three per cent of the fastest time nets players 2,000,000 Credits.
If you aren’t quite quick enough, then lapping within five per cent gains you 1,000,000 Credits, while a time inside 10 per cent of the fastest results in a 250,000 Credit payout.
Gran Turismo 7 Lap Time Challenge video guide and car choice
The fastest lap at the time of publication has been set by Malaysian player DannyR_3967, with a 1:36.954 lap time as shown below. Note their copious use of kerbs around Dragon Trail and the way they maximise traction out of slow corners by short-shifting.
Our car of choice for this Lap Time Challenge is the Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept, as it offers a superb blend of speed and agility through Dragon Trail’s dips and dives.
Recommended car: Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept ‘18 (Brand Central, 450,000 Credits or free rental)
Lap Time Challenge
Race Information
Track: Dragon Trail – Seaside
Entry Period: -21st September – 5th October 2023
Regulations
Useable Tyres: Racing: Hard, Intermediate, Wet
Wide body: Prohibited
Nitrous/Overtake: Prohibited
Car Restrictions
Bop/Tuning Forbidden: Mid-speed
Car used: Gr.3
Car Settings: Specified
Race Settings
Track Limit: Normal
Penalty Settings
Shortcut Penalty: Invalidate Time
Wall Collision Penalty: Invalidate Time
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